Ink jet nozzle arrangement

ABSTRACT

A nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead includes a wafer substrate having a nozzle chamber defined therein. The nozzle arrangement has a nozzle chamber wall that defines an ink ejection port and a rim about the ink ejection port. A series of radially positioned actuators are connected to the wafer substrate and extend radially inwardly towards the rim. Each actuator is configured so that a radially inner edge of each actuator is displaceable, with respect to the nozzle rim, into the chamber, upon actuation of the actuator and so that, upon such displacement, a pressure within the nozzle chamber is increased, resulting in the ejection of ink from the ejection port.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.09/112,806, filed Jul. 10, 1998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,790. The disclosureof U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,790 is specifically incorporated herein byreference.

The following Australian provisional patent applications are herebyincorporated by cross-reference. For the purposes of location andidentification, US patent applications identified by their US patentapplication serial numbers (USSN) are listed alongside the Australianapplications from which the US patent applications claim the right ofpriority.

US PATENT/PATENT CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATION (CLAIMING AUSTRALIAN RIGHTOF PRIORITY PROVISIONAL FROM AUSTRALIAN PATENT PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONNO. APPLICATION) DOCKET NO. PO7991 09/113,060 ART01 PO8505 09/113,070ART02 PO7988 09/113,073 ART03 PO9395 09/112,748 ART04 PO8017 09/112,747ART06 PO8014 09/112,776 ART07 PO8025 09/112,750 ART08 PO8032 09/112,746ART09 PO7999 09/112,743 ART10 PO7998 09/112,742 ART11 PO8031 09/112,741ART12 PO8030 09/112,740 ART13 PO7997 09/112,739 ART15 PO7979 09/112,053ART16 PO8015 09/112,738 ART17 PO7978 09/113,067 ART18 PO7982 09/113,063ART19 PO7989 09/113,069 ART20 PO8019 09/112,744 ART21 PO7980 09/113,058ART22 PO8018 09/112,777 ART24 PO7938 09/113,224 ART25 PO8016 09/112,804ART26 PO8024 09/112,805 ART27 PO7940 09/113,072 ART28 PO7939 09/112,785ART29 PO8501 09/112,797 ART30 PO8500 09/112,796 ART31 PO7987 09/113,071ART32 PO8022 09/112,824 ART33 PO8497 09/113,090 ART34 PO8020 09/112,823ART38 PO8023 09/113,222 ART39 PO8504 09/112,786 ART42 PO8000 09/113,051ART43 PO7977 09/112,782 ART44 PO7934 09/113,056 ART45 PO7990 09/113,059ART46 PO8499 09/113,091 ART47 PO8502 09/112,753 ART48 PO7981 09/113,055ART50 PO7986 09/113,057 ART51 PO7983 09/113,054 ART52 PO8026 09/112,752ART53 PO8027 09/112,759 ART54 PO8028 09/112,757 ART56 PO9394 09/112,758ART57 PO9396 09/113,107 ART58 PO9397 09/112,829 ART59 PO9398 09/112,792ART60 PO9399 6,106,147 ART61 PO9400 09/112,790 ART62 PO9401 09/112,789ART63 PO9402 09/112,788 ART64 PO9403 09/112,795 ART65 PO9405 09/112,749ART66 PP0959 09/112,784 ART68 PP1397 09/112,783 ART69 PP2370 09/112,781DOT01 PP2371 09/113,052 DOT02 PO8003 09/112,834 Fluid01 PO800509/113,103 Fluid02 PO9404 09/113,101 Fluid03 PO8066 09/112,751 IJ01PO8072 09/112,787 IJ02 PO8040 09/112,802 IJ03 PO8071 09/112,803 IJ04PO8047 09/113,097 IJ05 PO8035 09/113,099 IJ06 PO8044 09/113,084 IJ07PO8063 09/113,066 IJ08 PO8057 09/112,778 IJ09 PO8056 09/112,779 IJ10PO8069 09/113,077 IJ11 PO8049 09/113,061 IJ12 PO8036 09/112,818 IJ13PO8048 09/112,816 IJ14 PO8070 09/112,772 IJ15 PO8067 09/112,819 IJ16PO8001 09/112,815 IJ17 PO8038 09/113,096 IJ18 PO8033 09/113,068 IJ19PO8002 09/113,095 IJ20 PO8068 09/112,808 IJ21 PO8062 09/112,809 IJ22PO8034 09/112,780 IJ23 PO8039 09/113,083 IJ24 PO8041 09/113,121 IJ25PO8004 09/113,122 IJ26 PO8037 09/112,793 IJ27 PO8043 09/112,794 IJ28PO8042 09/113,128 IJ29 PO8064 09/113,127 IJ30 PO9389 09/112,756 IJ31PO9391 09/112,755 IJ32 PP0888 09/112,754 IJ33 PP0891 09/112,811 IJ34PP0890 09/112,812 IJ35 PP0873 09/112,813 IJ36 PP0993 09/112,814 IJ37PP0890 09/112,764 IJ38 PP1398 09/112,765 IJ39 PP2592 09/112,767 IJ40PP2593 09/112,768 IJ41 PP3991 09/112,807 IJ42 PP3987 09/112,806 IJ43PP3985 09/112,820 IJ44 PP3983 09/112,821 IJ45 PO7935 09/112,822 IJM01PO7936 09/112,825 IJM02 PO7937 09/112,826 IJM03 PO8061 09/112,827 IJM04PO8054 09/112,828 IJM05 PO8065 6,071,750 IJM06 PO8055 09/113,108 IJM07PO8053 09/113,109 IJM08 PO8078 09/113,123 IJM09 PO7933 09/113,114 IJM10PO7950 09/113,115 IJM11 PO7949 09/113,129 IJM12 PO8060 09/113,124 IJM13PO8059 09/113,125 IJM14 PO8073 09/113,126 IJM15 PO8076 09/113,119 IJM16PO8075 09/113,120 IJM17 PO8079 09/113,221 IJM18 PO8050 09/113,116 IJM19PO8052 09/113,118 IJM20 PO7948 09/113,117 IJM21 PO7951 09/113,113 IJM22PO8074 09/113,130 IJM23 PO7941 09/113,110 IJM24 PO8077 09/113,112 IJM25PO8058 09/113,087 IJM26 PO8051 09/113,074 IJM27 PO8045 6,111,754 IJM28PO7952 09/113,088 IJM29 PO8046 09/112,771 IJM30 PO9390 09/112,769 IJM31PO9392 09/112,770 IJM32 PP0889 09/112,798 IJM35 PP0887 09/112,801 IJM36PP0882 09/112,800 IJM37 PP0874 09/112,799 IJM38 PP1396 09/113,098 IJM39PP3989 09/112,833 IJM40 PP2591 09/112,832 IJM41 PP3990 09/112,831 IJM42PP3986 09/112,830 IJM43 PP3984 09/112,836 IJM44 PP3982 09/112,835 IJM45PP0895 09/113,102 IR01 PP0870 09/113,106 IR02 PP0869 09/113,105 IR04PP0887 09/113,104 IR05 PP0885 09/112,810 IR06 PP0884 09/112,766 IR10PP0886 09/113,085 IR12 PP0871 09/113,086 IR13 PP0876 09/113,094 IR14PP0877 09/112,760 IR16 PP0878 09/112,773 IR17 PP0879 09/112,774 IR18PP0883 09/112,775 IR19 PP0880 09/112,745 IR20 PP0881 09/113,092 IR21PO8006 6,087,638 MEMS02 PO8007 09/113,093 MEMS03 PO8008 09/113,062MEMS04 PO8010 6,041,600 MEMS05 PO8011 09/113,082 MEMS06 PO7947 6,067,797MEMS07 PO7944 09/113,080 MEMS09 PO7946 6,044,646 MEMS10 PO939309/113,065 MEMS11 PP0875 09/113,078 MEMS12 PP0894 09/113,075 MEMS13

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of inkjet printing and, inparticular, discloses an inverted radial back-curling thermoelastic inkjet printing mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different types of printing mechanisms have been invented, a largenumber of which are presently in use. The known forms of printers have avariety of methods for marking the print media with a relevant markingmedia. Commonly used forms of printing include offset printing, laserprinting and copying devices, dot matrix type impact printers, thermalpaper printers, film recorders, thermal wax printers, dye sublimationprinters and ink jet printers both of the drop on demand and continuousflow type. Each type of printer has its own advantages and problems whenconsidering cost, speed, quality, reliability, simplicity ofconstruction and operation etc.

In recent years the field of ink jet printing, wherein each individualpixel of ink is derived from one or more ink nozzles, has becomeincreasingly popular primarily due to its inexpensive and versatilenature.

Many different techniques of ink jet printing have been invented. For asurvey of the field, reference is made to an article by J Moore,“Non-Impact Printing: Introduction and Historical Perspective”, OutputHard Copy Devices, Editors R Dubeck and S Sherr, pages 207-220 (1988).

Ink Jet printers themselves come in many different forms. Theutilization of a continuous stream of ink in ink jet printing appears todate back to at least 1929 wherein U.S. Pat. No. 1,941,001 by Hanselldiscloses a simple form of continuous stream electro-static ink jetprinting.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,275 by Sweet also discloses a process of acontinuous ink jet printing including a step wherein the ink jet streamis modulated by a high frequency electrostatic field so as to cause dropseparation. This technique is still utilized by several manufacturersincluding Elmjet and Scitex (see also U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,437 by Sweetet al).

Piezoelectric ink jet printers are also one form of commonly utilizedink jet printing device.

Piezoelectric systems are disclosed by Kyser et. al. in U.S. Pat. No.3,946,398 (1970) which utilizes a diaphragm mode of operation, by Zoltenin U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,212 (1970) which discloses a squeeze mode form ofoperation of a piezoelectric crystal, Stemme in U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120(1972) which discloses a bend mode of piezoelectric operation, Howkinsin U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,601 which discloses a piezoelectric push modeactuation of the ink jet stream and Fischbeck in U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590which discloses a shear mode type of piezoelectric transducer element.

Recently, thermal ink jet printing has become an extremely popular formof ink jet printing. The ink jet printing techniques include thosedisclosed by Endo et al in GB 2007162 (1979) and Vaught et al in U.S.Pat. No. 4,490,728. Both the aforementioned references disclose ink jetprinting techniques which rely on the activation of an electrothermalactuator which results in the creation of a bubble in a constrictedspace, such as a nozzle, which thereby causes the ejection of ink froman aperture connected to the confined space onto a relevant print media.Printing devices utilizing the electro-thermnal actuator aremanufactured by manufacturers such as Canon and Hewlett Packard.

As can be seen from the foregoing, many different types of printingtechnologies are available. Ideally, a printing technology should have anumber of desirable attributes. These include inexpensive constructionand operation, high speed operation, safe and continuous long termoperation etc. Each technology may have its own advantages anddisadvantages in the areas of cost, speed, quality, reliability, powerusage, simplicity of construction and operation, durability andconsumables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a nozzle arrangement for an ink jet printhead, the arrangementcomprising: a nozzle chamber defined in a wafer substrate for thestorage of ink to be ejected; an ink ejection port having a rim formedon one wall of the chamber; and a series of actuators attached to thewafer substrate, and forming a portion of the wall of the nozzle chamberadjacent the rim, the actuator paddles further being actuated in unisonso as to eject ink from the nozzle chamber via the ink ejection nozzle.

The actuators can include a surface which bends inwards away from thecentre of the nozzle chamber upon actuation. The actuators arepreferably actuated by means of a thermal actuator device. The thermalactuator device may comprise a conductive resistive heating elementencased within a material having a high coefficient of thermalexpansion. The element can be serpentine to allow for substantiallyunhindered expansion of the material. The actuators are preferablyarranged radially around the nozzle rim.

The actuators can form a membrane between the nozzle chamber and anexternal atmosphere of the arrangement and the actuators bend away fromthe external atmosphere to cause an increase in pressure within thenozzle chamber thereby initiating a consequential ejection of ink fromthe nozzle chamber. The actuators can bend away from a central axis ofthe nozzle chamber.

The nozzle arrangement can be formed on the wafer substrate utilizingmicro-electro mechanical techniques and further can comprise an inksupply channel in communication with the nozzle chamber. The ink supplychannel may be etched through the wafer. The nozzle arrangement mayinclude a series of struts which support the nozzle rim.

The arrangement can be formed adjacent to neighbouring arrangements soas to form a pagewidth printhead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of thepresent invention, preferred forms of the invention will now bedescribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGS. 1-3 are schematic sectional views illustrating the operationalprinciples of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) are again schematic sections illustrating theoperational principles of the thermal actuator device;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view, partly in section, of a single nozzlearrangement constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiments;

FIGS. 6-13 are side perspective views, partly in section, illustratingthe manufacturing steps of the preferred embodiments;

FIG. 14 illustrates an array of ink jet nozzles formed in accordancewith the manufacturing procedures of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 15 provides a legend of the materials indicated in FIGS. 16 to 23;and

FIG. 16 to FIG. 23 illustrate sectional views of the manufacturing stepsin one form of construction of a nozzle arrangement in accordance withthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In the preferred embodiment, ink is ejected out of a nozzle chamber viaan ink ejection port using a series of radially positioned thermalactuator devices that are arranged about the ink ejection port and areactivated to pressurize the ink within the nozzle chamber therebycausing the ejection of ink through the ejection port.

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated the basicoperational principles of the preferred embodiment. FIG. 1 illustrates asingle nozzle arrangement 1 in its quiescent state. The arrangement 1includes a nozzle chamber 2 which is normally filled with ink so as toform a meniscus 3 in an ink ejection port 4. The nozzle chamber 2 isformed within a wafer 5. The nozzle chamber 2 is supplied with ink viaan ink supply channel 6 which is etched through the wafer 5 with ahighly isotropic plasma etching system. A suitable etcher can be theAdvance Silicon Etch (ASE) system available from Surface TechnologySystems of the United Kingdom.

A top of the nozzle arrangement 1 includes a series of radiallypositioned actuators 8, 9. These actuators comprise apolytetrafluoroethylene (PIFE) layer and an internal serpentine coppercore 17. Upon heating of the copper core 17, the surrounding PTFEexpands rapidly resulting in a generally downward movement of theactuators 8, 9. Hence, when it is desired to eject ink from the inkejection port 4, a current is passed through the actuators 8, 9 whichresults in them bending generally downwards as illustrated in FIG. 2.The downward bending movement of the actuators 8, 9 results in asubstantial increase in pressure within the nozzle chamber 2. Theincrease in pressure in the nozzle chamber 2 results in an expansion ofthe meniscus 3 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The actuators 8, 9 are activated only briefly and subsequentlydeactivated. Consequently, the situation is as illustrated in FIG. 3with the actuators 8, 9 returning to their original positions. Thisresults in a general inflow of ink back into the nozzle chamber 2 and anecking and breaking of the meniscus 3 resulting in the ejection of adrop 12. The necking and breaking of the meniscus 3 is a consequence ofthe forward momentum of the ink associated with drop 12 and the backwardpressure experienced as a result of the return of the actuators 8, 9 totheir original positions. The return of the actuators 8,9 also resultsin a general inflow of ink from the channel 6 as a result of surfacetension effects and, eventually, the state returns to the quiescentposition as illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate the principle of operation of the thermalactuator. The thermal actuator is preferably constructed from a material14 having a high coefficient of thermal expansion. Embedded within thematerial 14 are a series of heater elements 15 which can be a series ofconductive elements designed to carry a current. The conductive elements15 are heated by passing a current through the elements 15 with theheating resulting in a general increase in temperature in the areaaround the heating elements 15. The position of the elements 15 is suchthat uneven heating of the material 14 occurs. The uneven increase intemperature causes a corresponding uneven expansion of the material 14.Hence, as illustrated in FIG. 4(b), the PTFE is bent generally in thedirection shown.

In FIG. 5, there is illustrated a side perspective view of oneembodiment of a nozzle arrangement constructed in accordance with theprinciples previously outlined. The nozzle chamber 2 is formed with anisotropic surface etch of the wafer 5. The wafer 5 can include a CMOSlayer including all the required power and drive circuits. Further, theactuators 8, 9 each have a leaf or petal formation which extends towardsa nozzle rim 28 defining the ejection port 4. The normally inner end ofeach leaf or petal formation is displaceable with respect to the nozzlerim 28. Each activator 8, 9 has an internal copper core 17 defining theelement 15. The core 17 winds in a serpentine manner to provide forsubstantially unhindered expansion of the actuators 8, 9. The operationof the actuators 8, 9 is as illustrated in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) suchthat, upon activation, the actuators 8 bend as previously describedresulting in a displacement of each petal formation away from the nozzlerim 28 and into the nozzle chamber 2. The ink supply channel 6 can becreated via a deep silicon back edge of the wafer 5 utilizing a plasmaetcher or the like. The copper or aluminium core 17 can provide acomplete circuit. A central arm 18 which can include both metal and PTFEportions provides the main structural support for the actuators 8, 9.

Turning now to FIG. 6 to FIG. 13, one form of manufacture of the nozzlearrangement 1 in accordance with the principles of the preferredembodiment is shown. The nozzle arrangement 1 is preferably manufacturedusing microelectromechanical (MEMS) techniques and can include thefollowing construction techniques:

As shown initially in FIG. 6, the initial processing starting materialis a standard semi-conductor wafer 20 having a complete CMOS level 21 toa first level of metal. The first level of metal includes portions 22which are utilized for providing power to the thermal actuators 8, 9.

The first step, as illustrated in FIG. 7, is to etch a nozzle regiondown to the silicon wafer 20 utilizing an appropriate mask.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a 2 μm layer of polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) is deposited and etched so as to define vias 24 forinterconnecting multiple levels.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the second level metal layer isdeposited, masked and etched to define a heater structure 25. The heaterstructure 25 includes via 26 interconnected with a lower aluminiumlayer.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a further 2 μm layer of PTFE isdeposited and etched to the depth of 1 μm utilizing a nozzle rim mask todefine the nozzle rim 28 in addition to ink flow guide rails 29 whichgenerally restrain any wicking along the surface of the PTFE layer. Theguide rails 29 surround small thin slots and, as such, surface tensioneffects are a lot higher around these slots which in turn results inminimal outflow of ink during operation.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the PTFE is etched utilizing a nozzleand actuator mask to define a port portion 30 and slots 31 and 32.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the wafer is crystallographicallyetched on a <111> plane utilizing a standard crystallographic etchantsuch as KOH. The etching forms a chamber 33, directly below the portportion 30.

In FIG. 13, the ink supply channel 34 can be etched from the back of thewafer utilizing a highly anisotropic etcher such as the STS etcher fromSilicon Technology Systems of United Kingdom. An array of ink jetnozzles can be formed simultaneously with a portion of an array 36 beingillustrated in FIG. 14. A portion of the printhead is formedsimultaneously and diced by the STS etching process. The array 36 shownprovides for four column printing with each separate column attached toa different color ink supply channel being supplied from the back of thewafer. Bond pads 37 provide for electrical control of the ejectionmechanism.

In this manner, large pagewidth printheads can be fabricated so as toprovide for a drop-on-demand ink ejection mechanism.

One form of detailed manufacturing process which can be used tofabricate monolithic ink jet printheads operating in accordance with theprinciples taught by the present embodiment can proceed utilizing thefollowing steps:

1. Using a double-sided polished wafer 60, complete a 0.5 micron, onepoly, 2 metal CMOS process 61. This step is shown in FIG. 16. Forclarity, these diagrams may not be to scale, and may not represent across section though any single plane of the nozzle. FIG. 15 is a key torepresentations of various materials in these manufacturing diagrams,and those of other cross referenced ink jet configurations.

2. Etch the CMOS oxide layers down to silicon or second level metalusing Mask 1. This mask defines the nozzle cavity and the edge of thechips. This step is shown in FIG. 16.

3. Deposit a thin layer (not shown) of a hydrophilic polymer, and treatthe surface of this polymer for PTFE adherence.

4. Deposit 1.5 microns of polytetrafluoroethylene (PIFE) 62.

5. Etch the MPTE and CMOS oxide layers to second level metal using Mask2. This mask defines the contact vias for the heater electrodes. Thisstep is shown in FIG. 17.

6. Deposit and pattern 0.5 microns of gold 63 using a lift-off processusing Mask 3. This mask defines the heater pattern. This step is shownin FIG. 18.

7. Deposit 1.5 microns of PTFE 64.

8. Etch 1 micron of PTFE using Mask 4. This mask defines the nozzle rim65 and the rim at the edge 66 of the nozzle chamber. This step is shownin FIG. 19.

9. Etch both layers of PTFE and the thin hydrophilic layer down tosilicon using Mask 5. This mask defines a gap 67 at inner edges of theactuators, and the edge of the chips. It also forms the mask for asubsequent crystallographic etch. This step is shown in FIG. 20.

10. Crystallographically etch the exposed silicon using KOH. This etchstops on <111> crystallographic planes 68, forming an inverted squarepyramid with sidewall angles of 54.74 degrees. This step is shown inFIG. 21.

11. Back-etch through the silicon wafer (with, for example, an ASEAdvanced Silicon Etcher from Surface Technology Systems) using Mask 6.This mask defines the ink inlets 69 which are etched through the wafer.The wafer is also diced by this etch. This step is shown in FIG. 22.

12. Mount the printheads in their packaging, which may be a moldedplastic former incorporating ink channels which supply the appropriatecolor ink to the ink inlets 69 at the back of the wafer.

13. Connect the printheads to their interconnect systems. For a lowprofile connection with minimum disruption of airflow, TAB may be used.Wire bonding may also be used if the printer is to be operated withsufficient clearance to the paper.

14. Fill the completed print heads with ink 70 and test them. A fillednozzle is shown in FIG. 23.

The presently disclosed ink jet printing technology is potentiallysuited to a wide range of printing systems including: color andmonochrome office printers, short run digital printers, high speeddigital printers, offset press supplemental printers, low cost scanningprinters high speed pagewidth printers, notebook computers with inbuiltpagewidth printers, portable color and monochrome printers, color andmonochrome copiers, color and monochrome facsimile machines, combinedprinter, facsimile and copying machines, label printers, large formatplotters, photograph copiers, printers for digital photographic“minilabs”, video printers, PHOTO CD (PHOTO CD is a registered trademark of the Eastman Kodak Company) printers, portable printers for PDAs,wallpaper printers, indoor sign printers, billboard printers, fabricprinters, camera printers and fault tolerant commercial printer arrays.

It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention asshown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodimentsare, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative andnot restrictive.

Ink Jet Technologies

The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Ofcourse many different devices could be used. However presently popularink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal ink jet is power consumption.This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stemsfrom the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves therapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink.Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermalink jet applications. This leads.to an efficiency of around 0.02%, fromelectricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric ink jet is size andcost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonabledrive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle.Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuiton a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at thecurrent limit of around 300 nozzles per printhead, but is a majorimpediment to the fabrication of pagewidth printheads with 19,200nozzles.

Ideally, the ink jet technologies used meet the stringent requirementsof in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed,low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digitalphotography, new ink jet technologies have been created. The targetfeatures include:

low power (less than 10 Watts)

high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)

photographic quality output

low manufacturing cost

small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)

high speed (<2 seconds per page).

All of these features can be met or exceeded by the ink jet systemsdescribed below with differing levels of difficulty. Forty-fivedifferent ink jet technologies have been developed by the Assignee togive a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. Thesetechnologies form part of separate applications assigned to the presentAssignee as set out in the table below under the heading CrossReferences to Related Applications.

The ink jet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digitalprinting systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras,through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercialprinting systems.

For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the printheadis designed to be a monolithic 0.5 micron CMOS chip with MEMS postprocessing. For color photographic applications, the printhead is 100 mmlong, with a width which depends upon the ink jet type. The smallestprinthead designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of35 square mm. The printheads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data andcontrol circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the printhead by injection molded plasticink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can becreated using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standardinjection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the waferto the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. Theprinthead is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automatedbonding.

Tables of Drop-on-Demand Ink Jets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation ofindividual ink jet nozzles have been identified. These characteristicsare largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an elevendimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix includeentries developed by the present assignee.

The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.

Actuator mechanism (18 types)

Basic operation mode (7 types)

Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)

Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)

Actuator motion (19 types)

Nozzle refill method (4 types)

Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)

Nozzle clearing method (9 types)

Nozzle plate construction (9 types)

Drop ejection direction (5 types)

Ink type (7 types)

The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains36.9 billion possible configurations of ink jet nozzle. While not all ofthe possible combinations result in a viable ink jet technology, manymillion configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical toelucidate all of the.possible configurations. Instead, certain ink jettypes have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 toIJ45 above which matches the docket numbers in the table under theheading Cross References to Related Applications.

Other ink jet configurations can readily be derived from theseforty-five examples by substituting alternative configurations along oneor more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be madeinto ink jet printheads with characteristics superior to any currentlyavailable ink jet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more ofthese examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below.The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In somecases, print technology may be listed more than once in a table, whereit shares characteristics with more than one entry.

Suitable applications for the ink jet technologies include: Homeprinters, Office network printers, Short run digital printers,Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWWprinters, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers,Notebook PC printers Fax machines, Industrial printing systems,Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.

The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrixare set out in the following tables.

Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples ACTUATOR MECHANISM(APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS) Thermal An electrothermal Largeforce High power Canon Bubblejet bubble heater heats the ink togenerated Ink carrier 1979 Endo et al GB above boiling point, Simplelimited to water patent 2,007,162 transferring significant constructionLow efficiency Xerox heater-in- heat to the aqueous No moving parts Highpit 1990 Hawkins et ink. A bubble Fast operation temperatures al U.S.Pat. No. 4,899,181 nucleates and quickly Small chip area requiredHewlett-Packard forms, expelling the required for actuator Highmechanical TIJ 1982 Vaught et ink, stress al U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,728 Theefficiency of the Unusual process is low, with materials requiredtypically less than Large drive 0.05% of the electrical transistorsenergy being Cavitation causes transformed into actuator failure kineticenergy of the Kogation reduces drop. bubble formation Large print headsare difficult to fabricate Piezo- A piezoelectric crystal Low power Verylarge area Kyser et al U.S. Pat. No. electric such as lead consumptionrequired for actuator 3,946,398 lanthanum zirconate Many ink typesDifficult to Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. (PZT) is electrically can be usedintegrate with 3,683,212 activated, and either Fast operationelectronics 1973 Stemme expands, shears, or High efficiency High voltageU.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 bends to apply drive transistors Epson Styluspressure to the ink, required Tektronix ejecting drops. Full pagewidthIJ04 print heads impractical due to actuator size Requires electricalpoling in high field strengths during manufacture Electro- An electricfield is Low power Low maximum Seiko Epson, strictive used to activateconsumption strain (approx. Usui et all JP electrostriction in Many inktypes 0.01%) 253401/96 relaxor materials such can be used Large areaIJ04 as lead lanthanum Low thermal required for actuator zirconatetitanate expansion due to low strain (PLZT) or lead Electric fieldResponse speed magnesium niobate strength required is marginal (˜10(PMN). (approx. 3.5 V/μm) μs) can be generated High voltage withoutdifficulty drive transistors Does not require required electrical polingFull pagewidth print heads impractical due to actuator size Ferro- Anelectric field is Low power Difficult to IJ04 electric used to induce aphase consumption integrate with transition between the Many ink typeselectronics antiferroelectric (AFE) can be used Unusual andferroelectric (FE) Fast operation materials such as phase. Perovskite(<1 μs) PLZSnT are materials such as tin Relatively high requiredmodified lead longitudinal strain Actuators require lanthanum zirconateHigh efficiency a large area titanate (PLZSnT) Electric field exhibitlarge strains of strength of around 3 up to 1% associated V/μm can bereadily with the AFE to FE provided phase transition. Electro-Conductive plates are Low power Difficult to IJ02, IJ04 static platesseparated by a consumption operate electrostatic compressible or fluidMany ink types devices in an dielectric (usually air). can be usedaqueous Upon application of a Fast operation environment voltage, theplates The electrostatic attract each other and actuator will displaceink, causing normally need to be drop ejection. The separated from theconductive plates may ink be in a comb or Very large area honeycombstructure, required to achieve or stacked to increase high forces thesurface area and High voltage therefore the force. drive transistors maybe required Full pagewidth print heads are not competitive due toactuator size Electro- A strong electric field Low current High voltage1989 Saito et al, static pull is applied to the ink, consumptionrequired U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068 on ink whereupon Low temperature May bedamaged 1989 Miura et al, electrostatic attraction by sparks due to airU.S. Pat. No. 4,810,954 accelerates the ink breakdown Tone-jet towardsthe print Required field medium. strength increases as the drop sizedecreases High voltage drive transistors required Electrostatic fieldattracts dust Permanent An electromagnet Low power Complex IJ07, IJ10magnet directly attracts a consumption fabrication electro- permanentmagnet, Many ink types Permanent magnetic displacing ink and can be usedmagnetic material causing drop ejection. Fast operation such asNeodymium Rare earth magnets High efficiency Iron Boron (NdFeB) with afield strength Easy extension required. around 1 Tesla can be fromsingle nozzles High local used. Examples are: to pagewidth printcurrents required Samarium Cobalt heads Copper (SaCo) and magneticmetalization should materials in the be used for long neodymium ironboron electromigration family (NdFeB, lifetime and low NdDyFeBNb,resistivity NdDyFeB, etc) Pigmented inks are usually infeasibleOperating temperature limited to the Curie temperature (around 540 K)Soft A solenoid induced a Low power Complex IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, magneticmagnetic field in a soft consumption fabrication IJ10, IJ12, IJ14, coreelectro- magnetic core or yoke Many ink types Materials not IJ15, IJ17magnetic fabricated from a can be used usually present in a ferrousmaterial such Fast operation CMOS fab such as as electroplated iron Highefficiency NiFe, CoNiFe, or alloys such as CoNiFe Easy extension CoFeare required [1], CoFe, or NiFe from single nozzles High local alloys.Typically, the to pagewidth print currents required soft magneticmaterial heads Copper is in two parts, which metalization should arenormally held be used for long apart by a spring. electromigration Whenthe solenoid is lifetime and low actuated, the two parts resistivityattract, displacing the Electroplating is ink. required High saturationflux density is required (2.0-2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe [1])Lorenz The Lorenz force Low power Force acts as a IJ06, IJ11, IJ13,force acting on a current consumption twisting motion IJ16 carrying wirein a Many ink types Typically, only a magnetic field is can be usedquarter of the utilized. Fast operation solenoid length This allows theHigh efficiency provides force in a magnetic field to be Easy extensionuseful direction supplied externally to from single nozzles High localthe print head, for to pagewidth print currents required example withrare heads Copper earth permanent metalization should magnets. be usedfor long Only the current electromigration carrying wire need belifetime and low fabricated on the print- resistivity head, simplifyingPigmented inks materials are usually requirements. infeasible Magneto-The actuator uses the Many ink types Force acts as a Fischenbeck,striction giant magnetostrictive can be used twisting motion U.S. Pat.No. 4,032,929 effect of materials Fast operation Unusual IJ25 such asTerfenol-D (an Easy extension materials such as alloy of terbium, fromsingle nozzles Terfenol-D are dysprosium and iron to pagewidth printrequired developed at the Naval heads High local Ordnance Laboratory,High force is currents required hence Ter-Fe-NOL). available Copper Forbest efficiency, the metalization should actuator should be pre- be usedfor long stressed to approx. 8 electromigration MPa. lifetime and lowresistivity Pre-stressing may be required Surface Ink under positive Lowpower Requires Silverbrook, EP tension pressure is held in a consumptionsupplementary force 0771 658 A2 and reduction nozzle by surface Simpleto effect drop related patent tension. The surface constructionseparation applications tension of the ink is No unusual Requiresspecial reduced below the materials required in ink surfactants bubblethreshold, fabrication Speed may be causing the ink to High efficiencylimited by surfactant egress from the Easy extension properties nozzle.from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Viscosity The ink viscosityis Simple Requires Silverbrook, EP reduction locally reduced toconstruction supplementary force 0771 658 A2 and select which drops areNo unusual to effect drop related patent to be ejected. A materialsrequired in separation applications viscosity reduction can fabricationRequires special be achieved Easy extension ink viscosityelectrothermally with from single nozzles properties most inks, butspecial to pagewidth print High speed is inks can be engineered headsdifficult to achieve for a 100:1 viscosity Requires reduction.oscillating ink pressure A high temperature difference (typically 80degrees) is required Acoustic An acoustic wave is Can operate Complexdrive 1993 Hadimioglu generated and without a nozzle circuitry et al,EUP 550,192 focussed upon the plate Complex 1993 Elrod et al, dropejection region. fabrication EUP 572,220 Low efficiency Poor control ofdrop position Poor control of drop volume Thermo- An actuator which Lowpower Efficient aqueous IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, elastic bend relies upondifferential consumption operation requires a IJ18, IJ19, IJ20, actuatorthermal expansion Many ink types thermal insulator on IJ21, IJ22, IJ23,upon Joule heating is can be used the hot side IJ24, IJ27, IJ28, used.Simple planar Corrosion IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, fabrication prevention can beIJ32, IJ33, IJ34, Small chip area difficult IJ35, IJ36, IJ37, requiredfor each Pigmented inks IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, actuator may be infeasible,IJ41 Fast operation as pigment particles High efficiency may jam thebend CMOS actuator compatible voltages and currents Standard MEMSprocesses can be used Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidthprint heads High CTE A material with a very High force can Requiresspecial IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, thermo- high coefficient of be generatedmaterial (e.g. PTFE) IJ20, IJ21, IJ22, elastic thermal expansion Threemethods of Requires a PTFE IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, actuator (CTE) such aspoly- PTFE deposition are deposition process, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30,tetrafluoroethylene under development: which is not yet IJ31, IJ42,IJ43, e (PTFE) is used. As chemical vapor standard in ULSI IJ44 high CTEmaterials deposition (CVD), fabs are usually non- spin coating, and PTFEdeposition conductive, a heater evaporation cannot be followedfabricated from a PTFE is a with high conductive material is candidatefor low temperature (above incorporated. A 50 μm dielectric constant 350° C.) processing long PTFE bend insulation in ULSI Pigmented inksactuator with Very low power may be infeasible, polysilicon heater andconsumption as pigment particles 15 mW power input Many ink types mayjam the bend can provide 180 μN can be used actuator force and 10 μmSimple planar deflection. Actuator fabrication motions include: Smallchip area Bend required for each Push actuator Buckle Fast operationRotate High efficiency CMOS compatible voltages and currents Easyextension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Conduct-ive Apolymer with a high High force can Requires special IJ24 polymercoefficient of thermal be generated materials thermo- expansion (such asVery low power development (High elastic PTFE) is doped with consumptionCTE conductive actuator conducting substances Many ink types polymer) toincrease its can be used Requires a PTFE conductivity to about 3 Simpleplanar deposition process, orders of magnitude fabrication which is notyet below that of copper. Small chip area standard in ULSI Theconducting required for each fabs polymer expands actuator PTFEdeposition when resistively Fast operation cannot be followed heated.High efficiency with high Examples of CMOS temperature (above conductingdopants compatible voltages 350 ° C.) processing include: and currentsEvaporation and Carbon nanotubes Easy extension CVD deposition Metalfibers from single nozzles techniques cannot Conductive polymers topagewidth print be used such as doped heads Pigmented inks polythiophenemay be infeasible, Carbon granules as pigment particles may jam the bendactuator Shape A shape memory alloy High force is Fatigue limits IJ26memory such as TiNi (also available (stresses maximum number alloy knownas Nitinol- of hundreds of MPa) of cycles Nickel Titanium alloy Largestrain is Low strain (1%) developed at the Naval available (more than isrequired to extend Ordnance Laboratory) 3%) fatigue resistance isthermally switched High corrosion Cycle rate between its weak resistancelimited by heat martensitic state and Simple removal its high stiffnessconstruction Requires unusual austenic state. The Easy extensionmaterials (TiNi) shape of the actuator from single nozzles The latentheat of in its martensitic state to pagewidth print transformation mustis deformed relative to heads be provided the austenic shape. Lowvoltage High current The shape change operation operation causesejection of a Requires pre drop. stressing to distort the martensiticstate Linear Linear magnetic Linear Magnetic Requires unusual IJ12Magnetic actuators include the actuators can be semiconductor ActuatorLinear Induction constructed with materials such as Actuator (LIA),Linear high thrust, long soft magnetic alloys Permanent Magnet travel,and high (e.g. CoNiFe) Synchronous Actuator efficiency using Somevarieties (LPMSA), Linear planar also require Reluctance semiconductorpermanent magnetic Synchronous Actuator fabrication materials such as(LRSA), Linear techniques Neodymium iron Switched Reluctance Longactuator boron (NdFeB) Actuator (LSRA), and travel is available Requiresthe Linear Stepper Medium force is complex multi- Actuator (LSA).available phase drive circuitry Low voltage High current operationoperation BASIC OPERATION MODE Actuator This is the simplest Simpleoperation Drop repetition Thermal ink jet directly mode of operation:the No external rate is usually Piezoelectric ink pushes ink actuatordirectly fields required limited to around 10 jet supplies sufficientSatellite drops kHz. However, this IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, kinetic energy toexpel can be avoided if is not fundamental IJ04, IJ05, IJ06, the drop.The drop drop velocity is less to the method, but is IJ07, IJ09, IJ11,must have a sufficient than 4 m/s related to the refill IJ12, IJ14,IJ16, velocity to overcome Can be efficient, method normally IJ20, IJ22,IJ23, the surface tension. depending upon the used IJ24, IJ25, IJ26,actuator used All of the drop IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, kinetic energy mustIJ30, IJ31, IJ32, be provided by the IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, actuator IJ36,IJ37, IJ38, Satellite drops IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, usually form if drop IJ42,IJ43, IJ44 velocity is greater than 4.5 m/s Proximity The drops to beVery simple print Requires close Silverbrook, EP printed are selected byhead fabrication can proximity between 0771 658 A2 and some manner (e.g.be used the print head and related patent thermally induced The drop theprint media or applications surface tension selection means transferroller reduction of does not need to May require two pressurized ink).provide the energy print heads printing Selected drops are required toseparate alternate rows of the separated from the ink the drop from theimage in the nozzle by nozzle Monolithic color contact with the printprint heads are medium or a transfer difficult roller. Electro- Thedrops to be Very simple print Requires very Silverbrook, EP static pullprinted are selected by head fabrication can high electrostatic 0771 658A2 and on ink some manner (e.g. be used field related patent thermallyinduced The drop Electrostatic field applications surface tensionselection means for small nozzle Tone-Jet reduction of does not need tosizes is above air pressurized ink). provide the energy breakdownSelected drops are required to separate Electrostatic field separatedfrom the ink the drop from the may attract dust in the nozzle by anozzle strong electric field. Magnetic The drops to be Very simple printRequires Silverbrook, EP pull on ink printed are selected by headfabrication can magnetic ink 0771 658 A2 and some manner (e.g. be usedInk colors other related patent thermally induced The drop than blackare applications surface tension selection means difficult reduction ofdoes not need to Requires very pressurized ink), provide the energy highmagnetic fields Selected drops are required to separate separated fromthe ink the drop from the in the nozzle by a nozzle strong magneticfield acting on the magnetic ink. Shutter The actuator moves a Highspeed (>50 Moving parts are IJ13, IJ17, IJ21 shutter to block ink kHz)operation can required flow to the nozzle. The be achieved due toRequires ink ink pressure is pulsed reduced refill time pressuremodulator at a multiple of the Drop timing can Friction and wear dropejection be very accurate must be considered frequency. The actuatorStiction is energy can be very possible low Shuttered The actuator movesa Actuators with Moving parts are IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, grill shutter toblock ink small travel can be required IJ19 flow through a grill to usedRequires ink the nozzle. The shutter Actuators with pressure modulatormovement need only small force can be Friction and wear be equal to thewidth used must be considered of the grill holes. High speed (>50Stiction is kHz) operation can possible be achieved Pulsed A pulsedmagnetic Extremely low Requires an IJ10 magnetic field attracts an ‘inkenergy operation is external pulsed pull on ink pusher’ at the droppossible magnetic field pusher ejection frequency. An No heat Requiresspecial actuator controls a dissipation materials for both catch, whichprevents problems the actuator and the the ink pusher from ink pushermoving when a drop is Complex not to be ejected. construction AUXILIARYMECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES) None The actuator directly Simplicityof Drop ejection Most ink jets, fires the ink drop, and constructionenergy must be including there is no external Simplicity of supplied bypiezoelectric and field or other operation individual nozzle thermalbubble. mechanism required. Small physical actuator IJ01, IJ02, IJ03,size IJ04, IJ05, IJ07, IJ09, IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24,IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36,IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Oscillating The inkpressure Oscillating ink Requires external Silverbrook, EP ink pressureoscillates, providing pressure can provide ink pressure 0771 658 A2 and(including much of the drop a refill pulse, oscillator related patentacoustic ejection energy. The allowing higher Ink pressure applicationsstimul- actuator selects which operating speed phase and amplitude IJ08,IJ13, IJ15, ation) drops are to be fired The actuators must be carefullyIJ17, IJ18, IJ19, by selectively may operate with controlled IJ21blocking or enabling much lower energy Acoustic nozzles. The inkAcoustic lenses reflections in the ink pressure oscillation can be usedto focus chamber must be may be achieved by the sound on the designedfor vibrating the print nozzles head, or preferably by an actuator inthe ink supply. Media The print head is Low power Precision Silverbrook,EP proximity placed in close High accuracy assembly required 0771 658 A2and proximity to the print Simple print head Paper fibers may relatedpatent medium. Selected construction cause problems applications dropsprotrude from Cannot print on the print head further rough substratesthan unselected drops, and contact the print medium. The drop soaks intothe medium fast enough to cause drop separation. Transfer Drops areprinted to a High accuracy Bulky Silverbrook, EP roller transfer rollerinstead Wide range of Expensive 0771658 A2 and of straight to the printprint substrates can Complex related patent medium. A transfer be usedconstruction applications roller can also be used Ink can be driedTektronix hot for proximity drop on the transfer roller meltpiezoelectric separation. ink jet Any of the IJ series Electro- Anelectric field is Low power Field strength Silverbrook, EP static usedto accelerate Simple print head required for 0771 658 A2 and selecteddrops towards construction separation of small related patent the printmedium. drops is near or applications above air Tone-Jet breakdownDirect A magnetic field is Low power Requires Silverbrook, EP magneticused to accelerate Simple print head magnetic ink 0771 658 A2 and fieldselected drops of construction Requires strong related patent magneticink towards magnetic field applications the print medium. Cross Theprint head is Does not require Requires external IJ06, IJ16 magneticplaced in a constant magnetic materials magnet field magnetic field. Theto be integrated in Current densities Lorenz force in a the print headmay be high, current carrying wire manufacturing resulting in is used tomove the process electromigration actuator. problems Pulsed A pulsedmagnetic Very low power Complex print IJ10 magnetic field is used tooperation is possible head construction field cyclically attract a Smallprint head Magnetic paddle, which pushes size materials required in onthe ink. A small print head actuator moves a catch, which selectivelyprevents the paddle from moving. ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATIONMETHOD None No actuator Operational Many actuator Thermal Bubblemechanical simplicity mechanisms have Ink jet amplification is used.insufficient travel, IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, The actuator directly orinsufficient force, IJ07, IJ16, IJ25, drives the drop to efficientlydrive IJ26 ejection process. the drop ejection process Differential Anactuator material Provides greater High stresses are Piezoelectricexpansion expands more on one travel in a reduced involved IJ03, IJ09,IJ17, bend side than on the other. print head area Care must be IJ18,IJ19, IJ20, actuator The expansion may be taken that the IJ21, IJ22,IJ23, thermal, piezoelectric, materials do not IJ24, IJ27, IJ29,magnetostrictive, or delaminate IJ30, IJ31, IJ32, other mechanism. TheResidual bend IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, bend actuator converts resulting fromhigh IJ36, IJ37, IJ38, a high force low travel temperature or high IJ39,IJ42, IJ43, actuator mechanism to stress during IJ44 high travel, lowerformation force mechanism. Transient A trilayer bend Very good Highstresses are IJ40, IJ41 bend actuator where the two temperaturestability involved actuator outside layers are High speed, as a Caremust be identical. This cancels new drop can be taken that the bend dueto ambient fired before heat materials do not temperature and dissipatesdelaminate residual stress. The Cancels residual actuator only respondsstress of formation to transient heating of one side or the other.Reverse The actuator loads a Better coupling Fabrication IJ05, IJ11spring spring. When the to the ink complexity actuator is turned off,High stress in the the spring releases. spring This can reverse theforce/distance curve of the actuator to make it compatible with theforce/time requirements of the drop ejection. Actuator A series of thinIncreased travel Increased Some stack actuators are stacked. Reduceddrive fabrication piezoelectric ink jets This can be voltage complexityIJ04 appropriate where Increased actuators require high possibility ofshort electric field strength, circuits due to such as electrostaticpinholes and piezoelectric actuators. Multiple Multiple smallerIncreases the Actuator forces IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, actuators actuators areused force available from may not add IJ20, IJ22, IJ28, simultaneouslyto an actuator linearly, reducing IJ42, IJ43 move the ink. Each Multipleefficiency actuator need provide actuators can be only a portion of thepositioned to control force required. ink flow accurately Linear Alinear spring is used Matches low Requires print IJ15 Spring totransform a motion travel actuator with head area for the with smalltravel and higher travel spring high force into a requirements longertravel, lower Non-contact force motion. method of motion transformationCoiled A bend actuator is Increases travel Generally IJ17, IJ21, IJ34,actuator coiled to provide Reduces chip restricted to planar IJ35greater travel in a area implementations reduced chip area. Planar dueto extreme implementations are fabrication difficulty relatively easy toin other orientations. fabricate. Flexure A bend actuator has a Simplemeans of Care must be IJ10, IJ19, IJ33 bend small region near theincreasing travel of taken not to exceed actuator fixture point, which abend actuator the elastic limit in flexes much more the flexure areareadily than the Stress remainder of the distribution is very actuator.The actuator uneven flexing is effectively Difficult to converted froman accurately model even coiling to an with finite element angular bend,resulting analysis in greater travel of the actuator tip. Catch Theactuator controls a Very low Complex IJ10 small catch. The catchactuator energy construction either enables or Very small Requiresexternal disables movement of actuator size force an ink pusher that isUnsuitable for controlled in a bulk pigmented inks manner. Gears Gearscan be used to Low force, low Moving parts are IJ13 increase travel atthe travel actuators can required expense of duration. be used Severalactuator Circular gears, rack Can be fabricated cycles are required andpinion, ratchets, using standard More complex and other gearing surfaceMEMS drive electronics methods can be used. processes Complexconstruction Friction, friction, and wear are possible Buckle plate Abuckle plate can be Very fast Must stay within S. Hirata et al, used tochange a slow movement elastic limits of the “An Ink-jet Head actuatorinto a fast achievable materials for long Using Diaphragm motion. It canalso device life Microactuator”, convert a high force, High stressesProc. IEEE MEMS, low travel actuator involved Feb. 1996, pp 418- into ahigh travel, Generally high 423. medium force motion. power requirementIJ18, IJ27 Tapered A tapered magnetic Linearizes the Complex IJ14magnetic pole can increase magnetic construction pole travel at theexpense force/distance curve of force. Lever A lever and fulcrum isMatches low High stress IJ32, IJ36, IJ37 used to transform a travelactuator with around the fulcrum motion with small higher travel traveland high force requirements into a motion with Fulcrum area has longertravel and no linear movement, lower force. The lever and can be usedfor can also reverse the a fluid seal direction of travel. Rotary Theactuator is High mechanical Complex IJ28 impeller connected to a rotaryadvantage construction impeller. A small The ratio of force Unsuitablefor angular deflection of to travel of the pigmented inks the actuatorresults in actuator can be a rotation of the matched to the impellervanes, which nozzle requirements push the ink against by varying thestationary vanes and number of impeller out of the nozzle. vanesAcoustic A refractive or No moving parts Large area 1993 Hadimioglu lensdiffractive (e.g. zone required et al, EUP 550,192 plate) acoustic lensis Only relevant for 1993 Elrod et al, used to concentrate acoustic inkjets EUP 572,220 sound waves. Sharp A sharp point is used SimpleDifficult to Tone-jet conductive to concentrate an constructionfabricate using point electrostatic field. standard VLSI processes for asurface ejecting ink- jet Only relevant for electrostatic ink jetsACTUATOR MOTION Volume The volume of the Simple High energy isHewlett-Packard expansion actuator changes, construction in thetypically required to Thermal Ink jet pushing the ink in all case ofthermal ink achieve volume Canon Bubblejet directions. jet expansion.This leads to thermal stress, cavitation, and kogation in thermal inkjet implementations Linear, The actuator moves in Efficient Highfabrication IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, normal to a direction normal to couplingto ink complexity may be IJ07, IJ11, IJ14 chip surface the print headsurface. drops ejected required to achieve The nozzle is typicallynormal to the perpendicular in the line of surface motion movement.Parallel to The actuator moves Suitable for Fabrication IJ12, IJ13,IJ15, chip surface parallel to the print planar fabrication complexityIJ33, IJ34, IJ35, head surface. Drop Friction IJ36 ejection may still beStiction normal to the surface. Membrane An actuator with a Theeffective Fabrication 1982 Howkins push high force but small area of theactuator complexity U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,601 area is used to push abecomes the Actuator size stiff membrane that is membrane areaDifficulty of in contact with the ink. integration in a VLSI processRotary The actuator causes Rotary levers Device IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, therotation of some may be used to complexity IJ28 element, such a grill orincrease travel May have impeller Small chip area friction at a pivotrequirements point Bend The actuator bends A very small Requires the1970 Kyser et al when energized. This change in actuator to be made U.S.Pat. No. 3,946,398 may be due to dimensions can be from at least two1973 Stemme differential thermal converted to a large distinct layers,or to U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 expansion, motion. have a thermal IJ03,IJ09, IJ10, piezoelectric difference across the IJ19, IJ23, IJ24,expansion, actuator IJ25, IJ29, IJ30, magnetostriction, or IJ31, IJ33,IJ34, other form of relative IJ35 dimensional change. Swivel Theactuator swivels Allows operation Inefficient IJ06 around a centralpivot. where the net linear coupling to the ink This motion is suitableforce on the paddle motion where there are is zero opposite forces Smallchip area applied to opposite requirements sides of the paddle, e.g.Lorenz force. Straighten The actuator is Can be used with Requirescareful IJ26, IJ32 normally bent, and shape memory balance of stressesstraightens when alloys where the to ensure that the energized. austenicphase is quiescent bend is planar accurate Double The actuator bends inOne actuator can Difficult to make IJ36, IJ37, IJ38 bend one directionwhen be used to power the drops ejected by one element is two nozzles.both bend directions energized, and bends Reduced chip identical. theother way when size. A small another element is Not sensitive toefficiency loss energized. ambient temperature compared to equivalentsingle bend actuators. Shear Energizing the Can increase the Not readily1985 Fishbeck actuator causes a shear effective travel of applicable toother U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,590 motion in the actuator piezoelectricactuator material. actuators mechanisms Radial con- The actuatorsqueezes Relatively easy High force 1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. strictionan ink reservoir, to fabricate single required 3,683,212 forcing inkfrom a nozzles from glass Inefficient constricted nozzle. tubing asDifficult to macroscopic integrate with VLSI structures processesCoil/uncoil A coiled actuator Easy to fabricate Difficult to IJ17, IJ21,IJ34, uncoils or coils more as a planar VLSI fabricate for non- IJ35tightly. The motion of process planar devices the free end of the Smallarea Poor out-of-plane actuator ejects the ink. required, thereforestiffness low cost Bow The actuator bows (or Can increase the Maximumtravel IJ16, IJ18, IJ27 buckles) in the middle speed of travel isconstrained when energized. Mechanically High force rigid requiredPush-Pull Two actuators control The structure is Not readily IJ18 ashutter. One actuator pinned at both ends, suitable for ink jets pullsthe shutter, and so has a high out-of- which directly push the otherpushes it. plane rigidity the ink Curl A set of actuators curl Goodfluid flow Design IJ20, IJ42 inwards inwards to reduce the to the regionbehind complexity volume of ink that the actuator they enclose.increases efficiency Curl A set of actuators curl Relatively simpleRelatively large IJ43 outwards outwards, pressurizing construction chiparea ink in a chamber surrounding the actuators, and expelling ink froma nozzle in the chamber. Iris Multiple vanes enclose High efficiencyHigh fabrication IJ22 a volume of ink. These Small chip area complexitysimultaneously rotate, Not suitable for reducing the volume pigmentedinks between the vanes. Acoustic The actuator vibrates The actuator canLarge area 1993 Hadimioglu vibration at a high frequency. be physicallydistant required for et al, EUP 550,192 from the ink efficient operation1993 Elrod et al, at useful frequencies EUP 572,220 Acoustic couplingand crosstalk Complex drive circuitry Poor control of drop volume andposition None In various ink jet No moving parts Various otherSilverbrook, EP designs the actuator tradeoffs are 0771 658 A2 and doesnot move. required to related patent eliminate moving applications partsTone-jet NOZZLE REFILL METHOD Surface This is the normal way FabricationLow speed Thermal ink jet tension that ink jets are simplicity Surfacetension Piezoelectric ink refilled. After the Operational forcerelatively jet actuator is energized, simplicity small compared toIJ01-IJ07, IJ10- it typically returns actuator force IJ14, IJ16, IJ20,rapidly to its normal Long refill time IJ22-IJ45 position. This rapidusually dominates return sucks in air the total repetition through thenozzle rate opening. The ink surface tension at the nozzle then exerts asmall force restoring the meniscus to a minimum area. This force refillsthe nozzle. Shuttered Ink to the nozzle High speed Requires IJ08, IJ13,IJ15, oscillating chamber is provided at Low actuator common ink IJ17,IJ18, IJ19, ink pressure a pressure that energy, as the pressureoscillator IJ21 oscillates at twice the actuator need only May not bedrop ejection open or close the suitable for frequency. When a shutter,instead of pigmented inks drop is to be ejected, ejecting the ink dropthe shutter is opened for 3 half cycles: drop ejection, actuator return,and refill. The shutter is then closed to prevent the nozzle chamberemptying during the next negative pressure cycle. Refill After the mainHigh speed, as Requires two IJ09 actuator actuator has ejected a thenozzle is independent drop a second (refill) actively refilled actuatorsper nozzle actuator is energized. The refill actuator pushes ink intothe nozzle chamber. The refill actuator returns slowly, to prevent itsreturn from emptying the chamber again. Positive ink The ink is held aslight High refill rate, Surface spill Silverbrook, EP pressure positivepressure. therefore a high must be prevented 0771 658 A2 and After theink drop is drop repetition rate Highly related patent ejected, thenozzle is possible hydrophobic print applications chamber fills quicklyhead surfaces are Alternative for:, as surface tension and requiredIJ01-IJ07,IJ10-IJ14, ink pressure both IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 operate torefill the nozzle. METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET Longinlet The ink inlet channel Design simplicity Restricts refill Thermalink jet channel to the nozzle chamber Operational rate Piezoelectric inkis made long and simplicity May result in a jet relatively narrow,Reduces relatively large chip IJ42, IJ43 relying on viscous crosstalkarea drag to reduce inlet Only partially back-flow. effective Positiveink The ink is under a Drop selection Requires a Silverbrook, EPpressure positive pressure, so and separation method (such as a 0771 658A2 and that in the quiescent forces can be nozzle rim or related patentstate some of the ink reduced effective applications drop alreadyprotrudes Fast refill time hydrophobizing, or Possible from the nozzle.both) to prevent operation of the This reduces the flooding of thefollowing: IJ01- pressure in the nozzle ejection surface of IJ07,IJ09-IJ12, chamber which is the print head. IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, requiredto eject a IJ22, IJ23-IJ34, certain volume of ink. IJ36-IJ41, IJ44 Thereduction in chamber pressure results in a reduction in ink pushed outthrough the inlet. Baffle One or more baffles The refill rate is DesignHP Thermal Ink are placed in the inlet not as restricted as complexityJet ink flow. When the the long inlet May increase Tektronix actuator isenergized, method. fabrication piezoelectric ink jet the rapid inkReduces complexity (e.g. movement creates crosstalk Tektronix hot melteddies which restrict Piezoelectric print the flow through the heads).inlet. The slower refill process is unrestricted, and does not result ineddies. Flexible flap In this method recently Significantly Notapplicable to Canon restricts disclosed by Canon, reduces back-flow mostink jet inlet the expanding actuator for edge-shooter configurations(bubble) pushes on a thermal ink jet Increased flexible flap thatdevices fabrication restricts the inlet. complexity Inelasticdeformation of polymer flap results in creep over extended use Inletfilter A filter is located Additional Restricts refill IJ04, IJ12, IJ24,between the ink inlet advantage of ink rate IJ27, IJ29, IJ30 and thenozzle filtration May result in chamber. The filter Ink filter may becomplex has a multitude of fabricated with no construction small holesor slots, additional process restricting ink flow, steps The filter alsoremoves particles which may block the nozzle. Small inlet The ink inletchannel Design simplicity Restricts refill IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 compared tothe nozzle chamber rate to nozzle has a substantially May result in asmaller cross section relatively large chip than that of the nozzle,area resulting in easier ink Only partially egress out of the effectivenozzle than out of the inlet. Inlet shutter A secondary actuatorIncreases speed Requires separate IJ09 controls the position of of theink-jet print refill actuator and a shutter, closing off head operationdrive circuit the ink inlet when the main actuator is energized. Theinlet is The method avoids the Back-flow Requires careful IJ01, IJ03,IJ05, located problem of inlet back- problem is design to minimize IJ06,IJ07, IJ10, behind the flow by arranging the eliminated the negativeIJ11, IJ14, IJ16, ink-pushing ink-pushing surface of pressure behind theIJ22, IJ23, IJ25, surface the actuator between paddle IJ28, IJ31, IJ32,the inlet and the IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, nozzle. IJ36, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 Partof the The actuator and a Significant Small increase in IJ07, IJ20,IJ26, actuator wall of the ink reductions in back- fabrication IJ38moves to chamber are arranged flow can be complexity shut off the sothat the motion of achieved inlet the actuator closes off Compactdesigns the inlet. possible Nozzle In some configurations Ink back-flowNone related to Silverbrook, EP actuator of ink jet, there is no problemis ink back-flow on 0771 658 A2 and does not expansion or eliminatedactuation related patent result in ink movement of an applicationsback-flow actuator which may Valve-jet cause ink back-flow Tone-jetthrough the inlet. NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD Normal All of the nozzles areNo added May not be Most ink jet nozzle firing fired periodically,complexity on the sufficient to systems before the ink has a print headdisplace dried ink IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, chance to dry. When IJ04, IJ05,IJ06, not in use the nozzles IJ07, IJ09, IJ10, are sealed (capped) IJ11,IJ12, IJ14, against air. IJ16, IJ20, IJ22, The nozzle firing is IJ23,IJ24, IJ25, usually performed IJ26, IJ27, IJ28, during a special IJ29,IJ30, IJ31, clearing cycle, after IJ32, IJ33, IJ34, first moving theprint IJ36, IJ37, IJ38, head to a cleaning IJ39, IJ40,, IJ41, station.IJ42, IJ43, IJ44,, IJ45 Extra In systems which heat Can be highlyRequires higher Silverbrook, EP power to the ink, but do not boileffective if the drive voltage for 0771 658 A2 and ink heater it undernormal heater is adjacent to clearing related patent situations, nozzlethe nozzle May require applications clearing can be larger driveachieved by over- transistors powering the heater and boiling ink at thenozzle. Rapid The actuator is fired in Does not require EffectivenessMay be used success-ion rapid succession. In extra drive circuitsdepends with: IJ01, IJ02, of actuator some configurations, on the printhead substantially upon IJ03, IJ04, IJ05, pulses this may cause heat Canbe readily the configuration of IJ06, IJ07, IJ09, build-up at the nozzlecontrolled and the ink jet nozzle IJ10, IJ11, IJ14, which boils the ink,initiated by digital IJ16, IJ20, IJ22, clearing the nozzle. In logicIJ23, IJ24, IJ25, other situations, it may IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, causesufficient IJ30, IJ31, IJ32, vibrations to dislodge IJ33, IJ34, IJ36,clogged nozzles. IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44, IJ45Extra Where an actuator is A simple Not suitable May be used power tonot normally driven to solution where where there is a with: IJ03, IJ09,ink pushing the limit of its motion, applicable hard limit to IJ16,IJ20, IJ23, actuator nozzle clearing may be actuator movement IJ24,IJ25, IJ27, assisted by providing IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, an enhanced driveIJ32, IJ39, IJ40, signal to the actuator. IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44, IJ45Acoustic An ultrasonic wave is A high nozzle High IJ08, IJ13, IJ15,resonance applied to the ink clearing capability implementation costIJ17, IJ18, IJ19, chamber. This wave is can be achieved if system doesnot IJ21 of an appropriate May be already include an amplitude andimplemented at very acoustic actuator frequency to cause low cost insystems sufficient force at the which already nozzle to clear includeacoustic blockages. This is actuators easiest to achieve if theultrasonic wave is at a resonant frequency of the ink cavity. Nozzle Amicrofabricated Can clear Accurate Silverbrook, EP clearing plate ispushed against severely clogged mechanical 0771 658 A2 and plate thenozzles. The plate nozzles alignment is related patent has a post forevery required applications nozzle. A post moves Moving parts arethrough each nozzle, required displacing dried ink. There is risk ofdamage to the nozzles Accurate fabrication is required Ink The pressureof the ink May be effective Requires May be used pressure is temporarilywhere other pressure pump or with all IJ series ink pulse increased sothat ink methods cannot be other pressure jets streams from all of theused actuator nozzles. This may be Expensive used in conjunctionWasteful of ink with actuator energizing. Print head A flexible ‘blade’is Effective for Difficult to use if Many ink jet wiper wiped across theprint planar print head print head surface is systems head surface. Thesurfaces non-planar or very blade is usually Low cost fragile fabricatedfrom a Requires flexible polymer, e.g. mechanical parts rubber orsynthetic Blade can wear elastomer. out in high volume print systemsSeparate A separate heater is Can be effective Fabrication Can be usedwith ink boiling provided at the nozzle where other nozzle complexitymany IJ series ink heater although the normal clearing methods jets drope-ection cannot be used mechanism does not Can be require it. Theheaters implemented at no do not require additional cost in individualdrive some ink jet circuits, as many configurations nozzles can becleared simultaneously, and no imaging is required. NOZZLE PLATECONSTRUCTION Electro- A nozzle plate is Fabrication High Hewlett Packardformed separately fabricated simplicity temperatures and Thermal Ink jetnickel from electroformed pressures are nickel, and bonded to requiredto bond the print head clip. nozzle plate Minimum thickness constraintsDifferential thermal expansion Laser Individual nozzle No masks Eachhole must Canon Bubblejet ablated or holes are ablated by an required beindividually 1988 Sercel et drilled intense UV laser in a Can be quitefast formed al., SPIE, Vol. 998 polymer nozzle plate, which is Somecontrol Special Excimer Beam typically a polymer over nozzle profileequipment required Applications, pp. such as polyimide or is possibleSlow where there 76-83 polysulphone Equipment are many thousands 1993Watanabe required is relatively of nozzles per print et al., U.S. Pat.No. low cost head 5,208,604 May produce thin burrs at exit holes SiliconA separate nozzle High accuracy is Two part K. Bean, IEEE micro- plateis attainable construction Transactions on machined micromachined fromHigh cost Electron Devices, single crystal silicon, Requires Vol. ED-25,No. 10, and bonded to the precision alignment 1978, pp IJ85-IJ95 printhead wafer. Nozzles may be Xerox 1990 clogged by adhesive Hawkins etal., U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181 Glass Fine glass capillaries No expensiveVery small 1970 Zoltan U.S. Pat. No. capillaries are drawn from glassequipment required nozzle sizes are 3,683,212 tubing. This method Simpleto make difficult to form has been used for single nozzles Not suitedfor making individual mass production nozzles, but is difficult to usefor bulk manufacturing of print heads with thousands of nozzles.Monolithic, The nozzle plate is High accuracy Requires Silverbrook, EPsurface deposited as a layer (<1 μm) sacrificial layer 0771 658 A2 andmicro- using standard VLSI Monolithic under the nozzle related patentmachined deposition techniques. Low cost plate to form the applicationsusing VLSI Nozzles are etched in Existing nozzle chamber IJ01, IJ02,IJ04, litho- the nozzle plate using processes can be Surface may beIJ11, IJ12, IJ17, graphic VLSI lithography and used fragile to the touchIJ18, IJ20, IJ22, processes etching. IJ24, IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30, IJ31,IJ32, IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44Monolithic, The nozzle plate is a High accuracy Requires long IJ03,IJ05, IJ06, etched buried etch stop in the (<1 μm) etch times IJ07,IJ08, IJ09, through wafer. Nozzle Monolithic Requires a IJ10, IJ13,IJ14, substrate chambers are etched in Low cost support wafer IJ15,IJ16, IJ19, the front of the wafer, No differential IJ21, IJ23, IJ25,and the wafer is expansion IJ26 thinned from the back side. Nozzles arethen etched in the etch stop layer. No nozzle Various methods have Nonozzles to Difficult to Ricoh 1995 plate been tried to eliminate becomeclogged control drop Sekiya et al U.S. Pat. No. the nozzles entirely, toposition accurately 5,412,413 prevent nozzle Crosstalk 1993 Hadimiogluclogging. These problems et al EUP 550,192 include thermal bubble 1993Elrod et al mechanisms and EUP 572,220 acoustic lens mechanisms TroughEach drop ejector has Reduced Drop firing IJ35 a trough throughmanufacturing direction is sensitive which a paddle moves, complexity towicking. There is no nozzle Monolithic plate. Nozzle slit Theelimination of No nozzles to Difficult to 1989 Saito et al instead ofnozzle holes and become clogged control drop U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,068individual replacement by a slit position accurately nozzlesencompassing many Crosstalk actuator positions problems reduces nozzleclogging, but increases crosstalk due to ink surface waves DROP EJECTIONDIRECTION Edge Ink flow is along the Simple Nozzles limited CanonBubblejet (‘edge surface of the chip, construction to edge 1979 Endo etal GB shooter’) and ink drops are No silicon High resolution patent2,007,162 ejected from the chip etching required is difficult Xeroxheater-in- edge. Good heat Fast color pit 1990 Hawkins et sinking viasubstrate printing requires al U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,181 Mechanically oneprint head per Tone-jet strong color Ease of chip handing Surface Inkflow is along the No bulk silicon Maximum ink Hewlett-Packard (‘roofsurface of the chip, etching required flow is severely TIJ 1982 Vaughtet shooter’) and ink drops are Silicon can make restricted al U.S. Pat.No. 4,490,728 ejected from the chip an effective heat IJ02, IJIJ, IJ12,surface, normal to the sink IJ20, IJ22 plane of the chip. Mechanicalstrength Through Ink flow is through the High ink flow Requires bulkSilverbrook, EP chip, chip, and ink drops are Suitable for siliconetching 0771658 A2 and forward ejected from the front pagewidth printrelated patent (‘up surface of the chip. heads applications shooter’)High nozzle IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, packing density IJ24, IJ27-IJ45 thereforelow manufacturing cost Through Ink flow is through the High ink flowRequires wafer IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, chip, chip, and ink drops are Suitablefor thinning IJ06, IJ07, IJ08, reverse ejected from the rear pagewidthprint Requires special IJ09, IJ10, IJ13, (‘down surface of the chip.heads handling during IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, shooter’) High nozzlemanufacture IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, packing density IJ25,IJ26 therefore lowmanufacturing cost Through Ink flow is through the Suitable forPagewidth print Epson Stylus actuator actuator, which is notpiezoelectric print heads require Tektronix hot fabricated as part ofheads several thousand melt piezoelectric the same substrate asconnections to drive ink jets the drive transistors. circuits Cannot bemanufactured in standard CMOS fabs Complex assembly required INK TYPEAqueous, Water based ink which Environmentally Slow drying Most existingink dye typically contains: friendly Corrosive jets water, dye,surfactant, No odor Bleeds on paper All IJ series ink humectant, and Mayjets biocide. strikethrough Silverbrook, EP Modern ink dyes have Cocklespaper 0771 658 A2 and high water-fastness, related patent light fastnessapplications Aqueous, Water based ink which Environmentally Slow dryingIJ02, IJ04, IJ21, pigment typically contains: friendly Corrosive IJ26,IJ27, IJ30 water, pigment, No odor Pigment may Silverbrook, EPsurfactant, humectant, Reduced bleed clog nozzles 0771 658 A2 and andbiocide. Reduced wicking Pigment may related patent Pigments have anReduced clog actuator applications advantage in reduced strikethroughmechanisms Piezoelectric ink- bleed, wicking and Cockles paper jetsstrikethrough. Thermal ink jets (with significant restrictions) MethylMEK is a highly Very fast drying Odorous All IJ series ink Ethylvolatile solvent used Prints on various Flammable jets Ketone forindustrial printing substrates such as (MEK) on difficult surfacesmetals and plastics such as aluminum cans. Alcohol Alcohol based inksFast drying Slight odor All IJ series ink (ethanol, can be used wherethe Operates at sub- Flammable jets 2-butanol printer must operate atfreezing and others) temperatures below temperatures the freezing pointof Reduced paper water. An example of cockle this is in-camera Low costconsumer photographic printing. Phase The ink is solid at No dryingtime- High viscosity Tektronix hot change room temperature, and inkinstantly freezes Printed ink melt piezoelectric (hot melt) is melted inthe print on the print medium typically has a ink jets head beforejetting. Almost any print ‘waxy’ feel 1989 Nowak Hot melt inks aremedium can be used Printed pages U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,346 usually waxbased, No paper cockle may ‘block’ All IJ series ink with a meltingpoint occurs Ink temperature jets around 80° C. After No wicking may beabove the jetting the ink freezes occurs curie point of almost instantlyupon No bleed occurs permanent magnets contacting the print Nostrikethrough Ink heaters medium or a transfer occurs consume powerroller. Long warm-up time Oil Oil based inks are High solubility Highviscosity: All IJ series ink extensively used in medium for some this isa significant jets offset printing. They dyes limitation for use in haveadvantages in Does not cockle ink jets, which improved paper usuallyrequire a characteristics on Does not wick low viscosity. Some paper(especially no through paper short chain and wicking or cockle).multi-branched oils Oil soluble dies and have a sufficiently pigmentsare required. low viscosity. Slow drying Micro- A microemulsion is aStops ink bleed Viscosity higher All IJ series ink emulsion stable, selfforming High dye than water jets emulsion of oil, water, solubility Costis slightly and surfactant. The Water, oil, and higher than watercharacteristic drop size amphiphilic soluble based ink is less than 100nm, dies can be used High surfactant and is determined by Can stabilizeconcentration the preferred curvature pigment required (around of thesurfactant. suspensions 5%)

We claim:
 1. An ink jet nozzle arrangement comprising: a nozzle chamberdefining means which defines a nozzle chamber and which includes a wallin which an ink ejection port is defined; and an actuator for effectingejection of ink from the chamber through the ink ejection port ondemand, the actuator being formed in the wall of the nozzle chamberdefining means: wherein said actuator extends substantially from saidink ejection port to other walls of nozzle chamber defining means. 2.The arrangement of claim 1 in which the actuator is an electro-thermalbend actuator.
 3. The arrangement of claim 2 in which the actuatorcomprises at least one paddle which lies in said wall substantiallycoplanar with the ink ejection port.
 4. The arrangement of claim 3 inwhich said at least one paddle is formed to be spaced, about a majorpart of a periphery of said at least one paddle, from said wall, aremaining part of the periphery of said at least one paddle serving asan anchor for anchoring said at least one paddle to the wall.
 5. Thearrangement of claim 4 in which a fluid seal is formed, in use, aboutsaid major part of the periphery of said at least one paddle.
 6. Thearrangement of claim 3 in which the actuator comprises a plurality ofpaddles disposed about the ink ejection port.
 7. The arrangement ofclaim 1 in which said wall is formed by at least one layer of material.8. The arrangement of claim 7 in which said at least one layer isapplied by deposition techniques.
 9. The arrangement of claim 7 in whichthe ink ejection port and the actuator are formed simultaneously in saidat least one layer.
 10. The arrangement of claim 9 in which the inkejection port and the actuator are formed simultaneously in said atleast one layer by etching said at least one layer.